You are here

Northeast Ohio students rack up 41,179 miles in bike-to-school contest

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (BRAIN) — Students in Northeast Ohio rode 41,179 miles in last month's Century Cycles Bike To School Challenge, which is sponsored by a local bike retailer and Raleigh Bicycles.

From May 5 through May 23, over 4,500 students at seven schools in Cleveland's suburbs took the bicycling challenge. Organizers reported that the students burned 1,647,160 calories, and — by replacing transit by car — saved their parents $6,326 on gasoline.

"Bike To School Challenge is a model of what we should be doing across the country," said Chris Speyer, chief executive officer of Accell North America, the parent company of Raleigh Bicycles. "At Raleigh Bicycles, we believe in investing in schools and communities that show a commitment to youth bicycling."

Raleigh and Century Cycles awarded 12 Raleigh bicycles to students as prizes.

"We don't call it the Bike To School Challenge for nothing," said Scott Cowan, owner of Century Cycles. "Although the rider numbers were down this year compared to last year's record-setting participation, the students proved their mettle even more so this year, turning out in impressive numbers through some of the worst and wettest spring weather that we've ever seen. We are gratified to see how this dedication results in far more bicycling year-round in these communities because of the Bike To School Challenge."